Mornings are usually great times to see many animals, especially when it is hot!
Many are just starting their day like you, and are often active in the cooler morning times than in the hot Sacramento heat of summer.

Wear comfortable shoes!
Even our 14 acres can seem like a lot of ground to cover.

Need to come and go?
Once you enter the zoo, you can exit and reenter if you get your hand stamped. There is a stamp kiosk by the exit.

Stuff to leave at home:
Rollerskates, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, bicycles, radios, boomboxes, tape or CD players, AND THE FAMILY DOG (or cat, or lizard, or whatever) since pets are not allowed in the zoo! Call ahead about service dogs 916-808-5888.

Give your lungs a rest.
Smoking is prohibited all over the zoo.

Hungry?
Food can be purchased at Kampala Café or Savannah Snacks. They offer everything from hamburgers to veggie burgers, ice cream to fries and much more!

Please Do Not Feed the Animals:
Our animals have specific diets and nutritional needs and we request that you please not feed them. Because some animals are under strict diets for medical reasons, it is vitally important that this policy is followed.

Animals Do Not Like to Be Teased!
For the welfare of our animals, we ask you not to tease, whistle or yell at the animals at the zoo. And, please do not throw food or anything else into the animal exhibits.

You can’t lose, even if they snooze.
Especially on warm afternoons, many of our animals like to nap. Wait for several minutes or check out our indoor Reptile House.

Want to see animals up-close?
Glass exhibits offer great views– check out the Reptile House, chimpanzee exhibit, giant anteater, North American river otter, fennec fox, aardvark and Wolf’s guenon exhibits. For the animals’ safety please do not touch the glass! After the stage show, stick around to get up close to the Animal Ambassadors.

Look sharp and be patient.
In winter, look for animals warming up in sunny areas. During hot weather, check out the shady spots in an exhibit–the animals will probably be there. Be patient and look carefully at all areas of the exhibit. The animals you are looking for might be concealed by trees, sitting in the shade of a cave, or even right in front of you, camouflaged as a leaf!

Fun Facts & Trivia

The Reptile House was built in the shape of a snake and opened in 1970.

The Sacramento Zoo began as the William Land Park Zoo in March 1927. It consisted of approximately 40 animals housed on four acres of land.

In 1942, the zoo budget was $150 for one year! In 2015, the zoo budget is more than $6 million for one year.

The Sacramento Zoological Society was formed in 1956 to encourage educational opportunities and fundraise for zoo expansion.

Approximately 50,000 school children visit the Sacramento Zoo annually.

The Sacramento Zoo exhibits over 500 animals, featuring over 130 species of carnivores, birds, reptiles, ungulates and primates.

Approximately 1,745 volunteers donate more than 42,000 hours of expertise and hard work annually.

The total yearly animal food budget is over $150,000—almost $50,000 is spent on fruits and vegetables which are delivered twice a week.

Elderly residents… Herkimer, the desert tortoise is the oldest resident at the Sacramento Zoo, he was born the same year that the zoo opened. Joey, our oldest male chimpanzee turned 53 in 2016. Also one of our great hornbills has been at the zoo almost 50 years.